The following points are highlights from pastor Stedman’s mp3 sermon on Romans 7:25 – 8:4:
- Paul’s intense struggle was because he was walking in the flesh
- How does Paul resolve, end, the struggle?
- “Thanks be to God” (Chapter 8 should begin here)
- The Flesh: the sin that finds its seat in our bodies via Adam, which gives Satan access to our souls to implant thoughts in our minds, “fiery darts,” and also lusts, selfishness…
- The struggle: the spirit [that God implanted in us] vs the flesh [inherited from Adam]
- That spirit agrees with God, the fleshly part of us opposes it
- For example: consider the alcoholic, his addiction; he may see all the harm alcohol is bringing into his life and want to quit it, resolving…and yet still give way upon temptation. Consider all addictions to be like that: temper, gluttony, pornography…
- Our problem is that our will is weak; our will power cannot win against the flesh
- God doesn’t take away this struggle; it will only cease when we “recon” who we are in Christ
- We need a new self-image; it will enable us to say “no” to fleshly urges
- This struggle is without condemnation because we are “in Christ”
- If you’re born again, He will never leave you: Prodigal son illustration
- God is not angry with me; when I fail, God doesn’t condemn me: He knows that I’m a child in His family, learning to walk (illustration – consider how a father treats his toddler who is learning to walk)
- When we deliberately choose to sin, we will be chastened; but when we fail, unintentionally sinning, He does not punish
- Why are we not condemned? Three reasons, explained
- The provision for life: my faith in what God said He has done for me in Christ
- Wrong view of self when failures occur – explained
- Right view of self, reiterated
- The importance of believing what God says about who I am
Pastor Stedman’s website is Raystedman.org
Please explore categories for other topics of interest.